CVG3106 Winter 2017

Soil Mechanics II
Course Instructor

Rozalina Dimitrova
A-333A (CBY)
rdimitro@uottawa.ca
(613) 562-5800 Ext. 6133

 No seepage of water

Effective stress: vertical

component of forces at solid-tosolid contact points over a unit
cross-sectional area
h1 sat h2

u h2 w
h1 h2

CVG3106 Soil Mechanics II

 Upward seepage of water

w h1 sat h2
u (h1 h2 h) w
u h2 h w

h2 ( i w )
Quick condition or failure by heave

0
Gs 1
i icr

w 1 e

CVG3106 Soil Mechanics II

3m
5m

4m

A layer of saturated clay 4m-thick is overlain by sand 5m

thick, the water table being 3m below the surface. The
saturated unit weights of the clay and sand are 19kN/m3
and 20kN/m3, respectively. Above the water table, the
dry unit weight of the sand is 17 kN/m3. Plot the total
and effective vertical stress variation with depth. If the
sand above the water table is saturated with capillary
water to a height of 1m , how are the above stresses
affected?

CVG3106 Soil Mechanics II

1 m capillary rise
3m
5m

17

kN/m3

3m
5m

1m

20 kN/m3
4m

4m

217 + 120 = 54

CVG3106 Soil Mechanics II

 t=0
u hi w
u 0
t=
u 0
u 0
The gradual increase in effective stress in the clay layer will cause
settlement over a period of time.

CVG3106 Soil Mechanics II

 Normally consolidated clay

0 c
Overconsolidated clay
0 c
Compression index (0.1 - 0.3)
e e
Cc 1 2 ; Cc 0.009( LL 10)
2
log
1
e e
Cs 3 4

Swelling index
log 4
= (1/4 - 1/5) Cs
3
CVG3106 Soil Mechanics II

Cs

' z1
Cc

sc
H log
1 e0
'z 0
Cc

c z0 z1
log

CVG3106 Soil Mechanics II

Cs

Cs

Cc

Cc

z0

z1

z1
Cs
sc
H log

1 eo

z0

log

z0

c z1

log
c Cc
z1
Cs
sc
H log
H log

1 eo
1

e
o
z0
c

CVG3106 Soil Mechanics II

Example 2
A laboratory consolidation test on the normally consolidated clay
gave the following results show below.
a. Calculate the average effective
stress on the clay layer.
b. Determine the compression index,
Cc.
c.
Pressure (kPa) Void ratio (e)
100

0.905

200

0.815

If the average effective stress on

the clay layer is increased to 115
kPa, what would be the total
consolidation settlement?

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Example 3
A total of 60 mm consolidation
settlement is expected in the two clay
layers due to a surcharge of . Find
the duration of surcharge application
at which 30 mm of total settlement
would take place.

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Example 4
The coefficient of consolidation of a clay for a given pressure range was
obtained as 8 x 10-3 mm2/sec on the basis of one dimensional consolidation test
results. In the field, there is a 2 m thick layer of the same clay. Based on the
assumption that a uniform surcharge of 70 kPa was to be applied
instantaneously, the total consolidation settlement was estimated to be 150
mm. However, during construction, the loading was gradual. Estimate the
settlement at t = 30 and t = 120 days after the beginning of construction.

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Example 4

Olsons ramp loading solution

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 c' ' tan '

c = effective cohesion
' = effective normal stress
= effective angle of internal friction
for gravels > sands> silts > clays
Shear strength parameters are commonly determined using either direct
shear tests or triaxial shear tests.

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 Simple and can be used to determine the

shear strength of all soil types.
Can we use the direct shear test to
determine the effective shear strength
parameters of clays? Explain why or why
not.
What is the value of effective cohesion, c
for sands, gravels, and normally
consolidated clays?
What is the value of effective cohesion, c
for overconsolidated clays?

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 Shear stress vs shear displacement in loose and dense sands

Loose

CVG3106 Soil Mechanics II

Dense (dilatancy)

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 For clays, three main types of

tests can be conducted with
triaxial equipment:
Consolidated-Drained test
(CD test)
Consolidated-Undrained test
(CU test)
Unconsolidated-Undrained
test (UU test)

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 Consolidated-drained test (CD test)

Sample is first consolidated and then sheared slowly such that no
excess pore-water pressures are developed (i.e. u = 0). Therefore,
= in this type of test during all stages of the test.

+
Vol

Overconsolidated

Normally consolidated

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 Consolidated-undrained test (CU test)

The specimens are first consolidated and then sheared.
During the shearing stage, pore-water pressures are measured.
Two different shear strength envelopes can be plotted for CU tests,
if the pore-water pressures are measured: total and effective.
NC clays

OC clays

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Shear strength

Unonsolidated-undrained test (UU test)

The soil specimens are not consolidated and sheared
immediately under undrained conditions.

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Shear strength

Note: will be approximately the same from CD tests and CU tests

(with pore-pressure measurements). But (from CU tests using total
stress approach) will be diferent than (from CU tests using effective
stress approach).
Total stress analysis (used in short term analysis: for evaluating the
stability of geotechnical structures immediately after loading). Which
tests are suitable for such analysis?
Effective stress analysis (used in long term analysis). Which tests are
suitable for such analysis?

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Relationships derived using the Mohrs

circle

1 3 tan 2 45

2
c
tan
45

2
2

1
2
1
1
f ( 1 3 ) ( 1 3 ) cos 2
2
2

f ( 1 3 ) sin 2

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Stress paths for CD and CU tests for a NC

clay
sin 1 tan
c

cos

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Example 5
Following are the results of the two consolidated-drained triaxial
tests on a clay at failure.
TEST 1: 3 = 82.8 kPa ; 1 = 329.2 kPa
TEST 2: 3 = 165.6 kPa; 1 = 558.6 kPa
Determine the effective shear strength parameters, c and .

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Pore-water pressure parameters

d
3

u B 3 A 1 3

u u(Confining ) u( Deviator )
u(Confining ) B 3
B

u( Confining )
3

B = f(saturation)

u( Deviator ) A( 1 3 )
A

u( Deviator )
( 1 3 )

CVG3106 Soil Mechanics II

A = f(OCR)

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Pore-water pressure parameters

In the above equation, B = 1
when degree of saturation, S = 1;
B = 0 when S = 0 and under
unsaturated conditions, 0 < B < 1.

Both B and A can be determined

experimentally (using triaxial
shear strength tests)

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Pore-water pressure parameters

Both B and A can be determined experimentally (using triaxial shear

strength tests)
It may take up to several weeks to complete a series (3 specimen) of
triaxial shear strength tests. Due to this reason, this is a VERY
EXPENSIVE TEST. But, a VERY RELIABLE TEST!!!

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Example 6
A fill embankment ( = 15.7 kN/m3 for the fill) is being
constructed on a clay foundation with c=50 kPa, = 21. The
pore pressure parameters for the clay, as found from triaxial
tests, are A = 0.5 and B= 0.9. Find the shear strength of the soil
at the base of the embankment just after the height of the fill has
been raised from 3 m to 6 m. Assume that the dissipation of pore
pressure during the construction stage is negligible, and that the
lateral pressure at any point is one half of the vertical pressure.

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Unconfined Compression test

It is convenient to measure the undrained shear strength
of cohesive soils.
Typically used in the design of foundations on clayey type
of soils (test competed in 15 min).
Special case of triaxial shear test with 3 = 0.

cu

1
2

qu
2

u 0

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 Peak strength values are

commonly used for coarsegrained soils or soils that that are
subjected to limited strains.
Residual strength values are
used for clays.
Normally consolidated clay: c =
0
Overconsolidated clay: well
defined c
Lowest : r

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 Drained Loading
In this case, the pore-water
pressures are close to zero
Long term stability
Steady state seepage
Shallow foundations
Slow rates of construction
Seepage control during
construction

Undrained Loading
In this case, the pore-water
pressures are not zero
During construction (Rapid)
Embankments and Cuttings
Sudden drawdown
Dam reservoirs /Floods
No seepage control
Embankments and Cuttings
Earthquake loading

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